COMMUNITY ZOOM MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 7:00PM
COMMUNITY ZOOM MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 7:00PM
The Next Chapter for Seward Park Co-op
Renovations to our lobbies, landscapes, and
shared spaces that honor our history.
The Next Chapter for Seward Park Co-op
Renovations to our lobbies, landscapes, and
shared spaces that honor our history.
Renovations to our lobbies, landscapes, and
shared spaces that honor our history.
A Message from Your Board
Welcome to the next chapter of the Seward Park Cooperative.
We are embarking on the most significant physical transformation of our cooperative in 65 years. This project is not just about updating our property; it is about honoring our history while building a campus that brings us closer together.
To realize this vision, we engaged a team of the city's top specialists in architecture, landscape design, and urban conservation. We shared our core principles with them: we wanted to maximize our shared green space, create new usable interiors for gathering, and integrate thoughtful security—all while maximizing the value of every dollar spent.
Guided by these goals, we worked with these professionals to reimagine how our cooperative functions. We focused on the spaces where we come together. We are upgrading the Community Room and creating a significantly improved and enlarged gym. We are also creating new indoor and outdoor lounges at each building, which we hope will become the centers of our community. We encourage all shareholders to think about these shared spaces as belonging to you, regardless of which building they are associated with. This is a campus, and the common areas belong to all shareholders.
We took this project extremely seriously and considered it a great responsibility. We are proud to present a vision that enhances our co-op’s unique character and serves our shareholders for decades to come.
A Message from Your Board
Welcome to the next chapter of the Seward Park Cooperative.
We are embarking on the most significant physical transformation of our cooperative in 65 years. This project is not just about updating our property; it is about honoring our history while building a campus that brings us closer together.
To realize this vision, we engaged a team of the city's top specialists in architecture, landscape design, and urban conservation. We shared our core principles with them: we wanted to maximize our shared green space, create new usable interiors for gathering, and integrate thoughtful security—all while maximizing the value of every dollar spent.
Guided by these goals, we worked with these professionals to reimagine how our cooperative functions. We focused on the spaces where we come together. We are upgrading the Community Room and creating a significantly improved and enlarged gym. We are also creating new indoor and outdoor lounges at each building, which we hope will become the centers of our community. We encourage all shareholders to think about these shared spaces as belonging to you, regardless of which building they are associated with. This is a campus, and the common areas belong to all shareholders.
We took this project extremely seriously and considered it a great responsibility. We are proud to present a vision that enhances our co-op’s unique character and serves our shareholders for decades to come.
How We Approached This
The board led this process as your elected representatives. We drew on shareholder surveys from previous years, conversations with neighbors, and our own experiences living here. We hired professionals after extensive vetting, then spent time orienting them on co-op history, current conditions, and where we needed improvements. With 5-6,000 people, multiple vendors, and plans that evolve as new information surfaces, we determined that board leadership would serve the co-op better than a committee structure. Timeline matters too - delays cost real money.
How We Approached This
The board led this process as your elected representatives. We drew on shareholder surveys from previous years, conversations with neighbors, and our own experiences living here. We hired professionals after extensive vetting, then spent time orienting them on co-op history, current conditions, and where we needed improvements. With 5-6,000 people, multiple vendors, and plans that evolve as new information surfaces, we determined that board leadership would serve the co-op better than a committee structure. Timeline matters too - delays cost real money.
the principles that guided us
Rethinking the Entrance
By rethinking the front entrances to our buildings, we are unlocking the entire renovation. Moving the entry points allows us to transform our lobbies from simple pass-throughs into true resident lounges - creating new, usable indoor space for neighbors to gather.
the principles that guided us
Rethinking the Entrance
By rethinking the front entrances to our buildings, we are unlocking the entire renovation. Moving the entry points allows us to transform our lobbies from simple pass-throughs into true resident lounges - creating new, usable indoor space for neighbors to gather.
the principles that guided us
Rethinking the Entrance
By rethinking the front entrances to our buildings, we are unlocking the entire renovation. Moving the entry points allows us to transform our lobbies from simple pass-throughs into true resident lounges - creating new, usable indoor space for neighbors to gather.
the principles that guided us
Rethinking the Entrance
By rethinking the front entrances to our buildings, we are unlocking the entire renovation. Moving the entry points allows us to transform our lobbies from simple pass-throughs into true resident lounges - creating new, usable indoor space for neighbors to gather.
What Happens Next
Construction is planned to begin in early February. In the meantime, we want to ensure every shareholder has the opportunity to understand the care and expertise that went into this plan.
We encourage you to explore the detailed renderings and information presented on this website. Please submit any questions you have through the site; we will begin posting answers here to keep the community informed.
We will be holding a Shareholder Zoom meeting on January 7th at 7:00 PM to walk through the plans and answer questions directly. The design professionals will be joining us to present the vision in detail. We will provide the Zoom link closer to the date.
As the work begins, this site will serve as your central hub for updates and project timelines.
frequently
Asked Questions
Everything you need to know, all in one place.
Why is the cooperative undertaking this renovation now?
Our campus is nearly 65 years old. In recent years, the Board has prioritized mandatory life-safety work like façade repairs, balcony reinforcements, and elevator modernizations. With those critical projects completed or nearing completion, we are entering the next phase of our capital plan. In 2019, the Board adopted a framework centered on four principles: Life Safety, Sustainability, Shareholder Value, and Quality of Life. This renovation advances all four, upgrading our infrastructure to meet Local Law 97 standards while creating the amenities residents have requested for decades.
How were these designs developed?
We selected Woods Bagot, a global architecture firm founded in 1869 with deep NYC residential experience, to lead the architectural design. We partnered with SWA/Balsley, a renowned landscape architecture firm, to reimagine our grounds, and engaged Zubatkin Owner Representation to provide technical oversight and project management. The design process was highly iterative; we walked the property with these experts, balancing architectural best practices with the specific operational needs of our 1,600+ units.
How was shareholder input incorporated?
This project reflects priorities that have been consistent for years. Through various forms of engagement over the last decade, quality-of-life improvement - specifically lobby and ground-floor upgrades - have consistently emerged as top priorities for our residents. The Board acted as the community's representative, synthesizing years of resident feedback with expert guidance and fiscal responsibility to create a plan that serves the entire campus.
Will this project increase our maintenance or require a special assessment?
No. There are no maintenance increases or special assessments planned for this work. In 2021, the cooperative secured a new mortgage to fund a comprehensive capital plan, which included projected costs for these lobby and ground-floor renovations. We are funding this project responsibly using the financing already secured.
Why is the cooperative undertaking this renovation now?
Our campus is nearly 65 years old. In recent years, the Board has prioritized mandatory life-safety work like façade repairs, balcony reinforcements, and elevator modernizations. With those critical projects completed or nearing completion, we are entering the next phase of our capital plan. In 2019, the Board adopted a framework centered on four principles: Life Safety, Sustainability, Shareholder Value, and Quality of Life. This renovation advances all four, upgrading our infrastructure to meet Local Law 97 standards while creating the amenities residents have requested for decades.
How were these designs developed?
We selected Woods Bagot, a global architecture firm founded in 1869 with deep NYC residential experience, to lead the architectural design. We partnered with SWA/Balsley, a renowned landscape architecture firm, to reimagine our grounds, and engaged Zubatkin Owner Representation to provide technical oversight and project management. The design process was highly iterative; we walked the property with these experts, balancing architectural best practices with the specific operational needs of our 1,600+ units.
How was shareholder input incorporated?
This project reflects priorities that have been consistent for years. Through various forms of engagement over the last decade, quality-of-life improvement - specifically lobby and ground-floor upgrades - have consistently emerged as top priorities for our residents. The Board acted as the community's representative, synthesizing years of resident feedback with expert guidance and fiscal responsibility to create a plan that serves the entire campus.
Will this project increase our maintenance or require a special assessment?
No. There are no maintenance increases or special assessments planned for this work. In 2021, the cooperative secured a new mortgage to fund a comprehensive capital plan, which included projected costs for these lobby and ground-floor renovations. We are funding this project responsibly using the financing already secured.
Why is the cooperative undertaking this renovation now?
Our campus is nearly 65 years old. In recent years, the Board has prioritized mandatory life-safety work like façade repairs, balcony reinforcements, and elevator modernizations. With those critical projects completed or nearing completion, we are entering the next phase of our capital plan. In 2019, the Board adopted a framework centered on four principles: Life Safety, Sustainability, Shareholder Value, and Quality of Life. This renovation advances all four, upgrading our infrastructure to meet Local Law 97 standards while creating the amenities residents have requested for decades.
How were these designs developed?
We selected Woods Bagot, a global architecture firm founded in 1869 with deep NYC residential experience, to lead the architectural design. We partnered with SWA/Balsley, a renowned landscape architecture firm, to reimagine our grounds, and engaged Zubatkin Owner Representation to provide technical oversight and project management. The design process was highly iterative; we walked the property with these experts, balancing architectural best practices with the specific operational needs of our 1,600+ units.
How was shareholder input incorporated?
This project reflects priorities that have been consistent for years. Through various forms of engagement over the last decade, quality-of-life improvement - specifically lobby and ground-floor upgrades - have consistently emerged as top priorities for our residents. The Board acted as the community's representative, synthesizing years of resident feedback with expert guidance and fiscal responsibility to create a plan that serves the entire campus.
Will this project increase our maintenance or require a special assessment?
No. There are no maintenance increases or special assessments planned for this work. In 2021, the cooperative secured a new mortgage to fund a comprehensive capital plan, which included projected costs for these lobby and ground-floor renovations. We are funding this project responsibly using the financing already secured.
Experts
Everything you need to know, all in one place.
timeline
A clear view of what’s happening when, so you always know what to expect.
Seward Park Cooperative 415 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, United States © 2025 All rights reserved.
Seward Park Cooperative 415 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, United States © 2025 All rights reserved.
Seward Park Cooperative 415 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, United States © 2025 All rights reserved.
Seward Park Cooperative 415 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, United States © 2025 All rights reserved.